Chef Scott Schabot

Its a funny expression – selling like hotcakes – and I am honestly not sure of the exact origins or how quickly hot cakes actually sell; but I know the reference implies that they sell quickly and such is the case with the tickets to the 2017 NC Chef Showdown.

The NC Chef Showdown is an annual event, held by the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association in association with the first night of the NCRLAExpo and this year presented by Got To Be NC, will find 12 of the state’s savory chefs, four pastry chefs and six mixologists up against each other going for braggin’ rites and the big title in one of three categories.

In the offing, the titles of NCRLA 2017 Chef of the Year, NCRLA 2017 Pastry Chef of the Year, and NCRLA 2017 Mixologist of the Year.

The ambulatory event held at the 214 Martin Street and Market Place venue in Raleigh will take place on August 21, 2017 – yes, the same day as the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse.

After the sun and the moon have their big show; North Carolina’s up and coming culinary stars come out to shine, cooking for an anticipated crowd of 400 or so lovers of fine food and delicious drink.

The emphasis is on all things local and living in North Carolina.

Twelve North Carolina chefs from across the state will be presenting savory dishes to the judges and to the crowd.

Chef Thomas Marlow

Chef Scott Ostrander

Chef Lil Lacassagne

Chef Tim Grandinetti

Chef Scott Schabot

Chef Phillip Platoni

Chef Matthew Krenz

Chef Jim Diecchio

Chef Alyssa Wilen

Chef Thomas Card

Chef Adam Reed

Chef Bud Taylor

In addition. four North Carolina Pastry chefs will be on hand to prepare offerings that will satisfy the crowd’s collective sweet tooth

Chef Shelby Smith

Chef Ann Marie Stefaney

Chef Julius Kalman

Chef Hannah Woociker

The judging panel will have final say on the big winner, but Showdown guests get to weigh in as well with a People’s Choice Award for Best Savory Chef, Best Pastry Chef and Best Mixologist.

That’s right – these six top shelf North Carolina Mixologists will also be shaking and stirring up the excitement throughout the evening at six individual bars sponsored by six local North Carolina Distilleries

Following hot on the heels of the Fourth of July fireworks, the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association, creators of the NC Chef Showdown, an annual one night culinary competition held in August, has some fireworks of their own to share!

“We are thrilled to announce the list of talented North Carolina Chefs selected to participate in the 2017 NC Chef Showdown competition,” said Showdown organizer and co-host Heidi Billotto.

With nearly 40 talented applicants from across the state applying to compete, and only 16 spots to fill, the competition was fierce and the decision of the selection committee, a formidable one.

In all, 16 of North Carolina’s top culinarians will be competing on the evening of August 21, 2017. The event will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina at 214 Martin Street and Market Hall Raleigh’s historic downtown City Market.

Cooking for a crowd of 300 plus, competing chefs will each have a station representing their restaurant or culinary outlet. Chefs will serve tasting-size portions to guests and plated tapas-sized portions to a panel of six culinary judges.

The presentation of the plates to the judges will be done live on stage in front of the crowd throughout the course of the evening. Chefs will have an opportunity to introduce themselves to the judges and the crowd and will share the concept of the dish they have each created for the evening.

This year’s event will see the following talented chefs on the savory side of the table competing for the title of the 2017 NCRLA Chef of the Year.

And competing with dishes to satisfy the collective sweet tooth of the 2017 NC Chef Showdown crowd will be the following four North Carolina Pastry chefs all going for the title of 2017 NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year.

All 16 chefs will be judged on the look and taste of the dish as well as the best use and number of local North Carolina ingredients including on each plate.

The judging panel of industry professionals will offer the top honors of 2017 NCRLA Chef of the Year and 2017 Pastry Chef of the Year, in addition to awards for competitors in both the sweet and savory categories for the “Best Use of a North Carolina Product” and the “Most Creative Presentation”

New in 2017, the NCRLA will also crown a 2017 NCRLA Mixologist of the Year, as six NC distilleries will be featured with hand-picked bartenders slinging their spirits. Look for the announcement of competing teams of distilleries and mixologists to come in the weeks ahead.

Attendees to the 2017 NC Chef Showdown will also get a say in the matter as each guest will get one vote in each category to determine the People’s Choice winners for Best Savory Dish, 2017 Best Pastry Dish and 2017 Best Cocktail.

The 2017 Chef Showdown will take place after the first day of the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Expo at the Raleigh Convention Center. Centrally located in the state’s capital city, this is an event that offers members of North Carolina’s hospitality industry two back to back days of meetings and seminars as well as a trade show.

Your ticket price includes unlimited tasting sized portions from all 16 of these talented chefs, tasting sized cocktails from six North Carolina distilleries represented by six of the state’s talented mixologists, a chance to vote in the evening’s People’s Choice awards, a selection of wine or beer, a gift bag to take home and an evening of fun, live music and more! Don’t wait, Get Your Tickets Now!

For more information about the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association, to become a member of the NCRLA, for more information about the 2017 NCRLA Expo and for all the latest news about the North Carolina Restaurant, lodging and hospitality industries visit ncrla.org

Tickets on Sale Now

Your ticket price includes unlimited tasting sized portions from all 16 of these talented chefs, tasting sized cocktails from six North Carolina distilleries represented by six of the state’s talented mixologists, a chance to vote in the evening’s People’s Choice awards, a selection of wine or beer, a gift bag to take home and an evening of fun, live music and more! Don’t wait, Get Your Tickets Now!

Thanks to Our 2017 NC Chef Showdown Sponsors

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